We approach ‘How To Swim/Lydia’ with a certain curiosity. Penned by Montreal-based rock’n’roll outfit The Satisfactory, the double single exhudes a keen timeless allure, threading the fine line between melancholic, hero-coded anthems and melodic, uplifting cuts. It’s a fine balance, one that showcases the wide pool of influences that propels the Canadian group’s nuanced artistry. Their sound is quite euphoric and gritty, and it’s fair to say that they refuse the extreme polish of modern music, instead finding refuge in a sonic dimension that’s organic and imperfect, but deeply human and relatable.
‘How to Swim’ descends into evocative and melancholic territories, birthing a stadium-ready ballad that oscillates between Britpop and 60s-esque aura. Songwriter and lead singer Salvador Vaughan delivers a vocal performance that’s pretty notable: his raspy, gritty tone is the perfect vehicle for complex, hidden emotions. Delving deeper into the song, Vaughan cryptically explains: “It doesn’t really matter what it means to me. It matters what it means to whoever hears it.”
On the other hand, ‘Lydia’ feels more oriented towards Beatle-esque melodism, packing a mid-tempo rock’n’roll song that’s a joy to listen to. Produced and mixed by Aran Winter and mastered by Peter Edwards, the singles provide a striking look at what The Satisfactory have to offer. So far, they appear to draw heightened inspiration from tradition, a quality that makes the project suitable for a wide audience.
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